One of the strategies announced by the government is the Total Electrification Program which looks to energize the remaining underserved and unserved households nationwide which is conducted in partnership with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the National Power Corporation (NPC). This agenda aims to provide serviceable electricity to all households by 2040.[1]
The creation of the Total Electrification Master Plan under the umbrella of the TEP is meant to oversee electrification of unserved and underserved communities within the franchise areas of the distribution utilities (DU).
Two major forms of electrification programs have been identified by the TEP, namely: grid electrification and off-grid electrification. [1]
Source: INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY; “HOUSEHOLD ELECTRIFICATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2013-2017”; ACCELERATING RENEWABLE MINI-GRID DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY ON THE PHILIPPINES
Nationwide Intensification of Household Electrification (NIHE) Program
Implemented from 2015 to 2017, the NIHE program was originally a three-year project aimed at intensifying household electrification. Under NIHE, DU’s are encouraged to adopt more pro-active and innovative marketing strategies to fast-track electrification of the remaining unelectrified households both in rural and urban areas of the country.[2] However, with the need to further expand the program, the DOE carried out a review and evaluation of its existing mechanism to further enhance and streamline the requirements. In the later part of 2017, the DOE issued the implementation guidelines that included the streamlined process in project approval, implementation and monitoring.[3]
Barangay Line Enhancement Program (BLEP)
Spearheaded by NEA, BLEP aims to rehabilitate barangays previously served by off-grid solutions but deemed unsustainable. To enhance the program, it will cover off-grid barangays that are already economically feasible for distribution line extension. NEA will assist in recovering the existing off-grid electrification facilities still owned by the government for reconfiguration and transfer to other far-flung areas that can be best served by off-grid solutions.
Sitio Electrification Program
The SEP is one of the government’s priority programs for economic development and poverty reduction by aiming for 100% sitio electrification. This program aims to energize an unlit sitio, purok, or zone which are defined as a territorial enclave that forms part of a barangay, the location of which may be distant from the center of the barangay itself, through providing funds for the construction of distribution lines and house wiring facilities to eligible households.
Missionary Electrification
While access to quality electricity is readily available to areas tied to the grid, the same cannot be said for marginalized communities in far flung and isolated areas that are not yet connected to the main grid. These off-grid areas are typically small islands and isolated grids (SIIG) and the EPIRA Law requires the government to intervene in securing reliable electricity to these places. Electricity supply to these areas is being provided mainly by the NPC through the Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG), privately-owned New Power Providers (NPP) for relatively large off-grid islands, and some QTP providers servicing far-flung and remote areas.[4]
International Partnerships
The European Union with assistance from the World Bank has lent its support to the Philippine government through the Access to Sustainable Energy Program which aims to promote sustainable energy for all as well as meet rural electrification targets using renewable energy. The program has funding support of around 66 million Euros to be used for the application of sustainable energy goals in meeting the growing energy needs of the country including providing greater energy access to the poor and marginalized sector.[5]
PV Mainstreaming
Solar Photovoltaic Mainstreaming (PVM) is a program by DOE that seeks to “mainstream” the provision of solar home systems as a utility service offering of EC’s and other regulated electricity suppliers. The PVM initiative targets households with no access to the grid and are not expected to be energized through either SEP, BLEP or NIHE within a few years.[6]
[1] DOE, Energy Plan, 146. [2] DOE, 36th EPIRA Implementation Status Report, 90. [3] DOE, Philippine Energy Plan 2018-2040, 149. [4] DOE, Philippine Energy Plan 2018-2040, 110 [5] DOE, Philippine Energy Plan 2018-2040, 206. [6] NEA, Memorandum on Solar PV Mainstreaming for Household Electrification, 1.